Guide to Sonoma Harvest Season 2025

Harvest season in Sonoma is the heart and soul of the county’s wine culture. The air is crisp, the days are warm, and the grape harvest is in full swing. It’s not just about the grapes reaching their peak ripeness; it’s about the culmination of a year’s hard work in the vineyards. You can feel the anticipation from winemakers and vineyard workers as they prepare for one of the most important events in the wine calendar!

Fall in Sonoma also means the wineries are bustling, but there’s still an intimate and personal feel to each visit. Many vineyards host special harvest tastings, where you can sample the year’s bounty before it even makes its way into the bottle. The aromas of fermenting grapes fill the air, and the entire county buzzes with the excitement of the season (after all, this is our specialty!).

Visiting Sonoma during harvest season offers a rare opportunity to connect with the land, the vines, and the people behind some of the world’s finest wines. Let’s explore all the ways to enjoy Sonoma Harvest season in 2025!

When is Harvest Season in Sonoma?

Harvest season in Sonoma typically runs from late August through October, and it’s an immersive experience for both locals and visitors. This is the time to see winemaking in action!  Tour wineries behind the scenes or join a harvest dinner in the vineyards.

Have you ever stomped grapes? Participate in grape stomps and be a part of the immersive harvest experience! (Side note, that’s how we got the term “crush season.”) Each vineyard has its own rhythm and unique approach to harvest, offering an authentic glimpse into the region’s winemaking traditions.

Sonoma Harvest Fair 2025

The 2025 Sonoma County Harvest Fair is the premier event of the harvest season. Set to take place on Saturday, October 11th, the Sonoma County Harvest Fair will showcase the best of the region’s wine and food through its Taste, Toast & Celebrate event. This year, the Sonoma Harvest Fair celebrates its 50th anniversary!

This celebration takes place from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa. Attendees will have the opportunity to taste wines from over 100 local wineries, including the unveiling of the Sweepstakes Award-winning wines for the year.

What to expect at the 2025 Sonoma Harvest Fair

Locally-curated bites: Esteemed Sonoma County restaurants will serve small bites that pair well with wine pours. Local participating restaurants include Goldfinch, Flamingo Lazeaway Lounge, 19TEN, KIN Windsor, KIN Smoke, Maison Porcella, Sonoma County Catering Company, El Rincon del Sabor, and Campanella.

Professional competitions: Over 900 wines will be tasted and judged in both professional and amateur wine competitions. 18 judges from across the trade, education, media, retail, and hospitality industries will evaluate entries across two days.

Grand tasting & grape stomp: Access to all Gold Medal and Best‑in‑Class wines featuring Sonoma’s best. Cheer on (or join in!) with competitors in this raucous seasonal tradition of grape stomping!

PLUS: A fun best-dressed couple contest comes with a travel getaway package award to celebrate their golden anniversary!

Tips for attending the 2025 Sonoma Harvest Fair

Buy your tickets early! The event is expected to sell out quickly. Tickets for the 2025 Sonoma Harvest Fair are on sale now.

Arrive early. Consider arriving as close to 6 p.m. as possible to catch tastings, stomps, and food demos.

Dress for the occasion. Sonoma Harvest Fair suggests cocktail attire for the event. Dress your best for the contest and photo ops!

More Sonoma Harvest Events in 2025

• Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival: This weekend-long celebration includes wine tastings, winemaker dinners, and a daytime festival. Enjoy a 5K/fun run, Blessing of the Grapes, artisan stalls, tastings, live music, and family-friendly fun in the heart of Sonoma. Proceeds support local vintners and growers. September 25-27, 2025
• Sonoma Ecology Center Annual Harvest Festival: This free family-focused festival celebrates fall at Sonoma Garden Park with live music, games, crafts, salsa-making competitions, and nature‑based activities hosted by the Sonoma Ecology Center. Saturday, October 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• SRJC Shone Farm Festival: Join friends and family of SRJC’s Shone Farm for a day of u-pick produce, farm tours, hay bale rides, and kids’ zone. Saturday, October 11th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Gravenstein Apple Fair: A beloved tribute to Sonoma’s apple heritage, the 52nd Gravenstein Apple Fair features festival rides, live music, food and craft booths, apple tasting, and more at the centerpiece of this longtime regional tradition. August 9-10, 2025.

Sonoma Fall Wine Tasting

Sonoma County is home to over 400 wineries, each with its own unique approach to harvest. This period offers an incredible opportunity to witness the winemaking process firsthand. Fall in Sonoma also means the wineries are bustling, but there’s still an intimate and personal feel to each visit.

Many vineyards host special harvest tastings, where you can sample the year’s bounty before it even makes its way into the bottle. Take a private Sonoma wine tour through the valley and get up close and personal with the winemaking experience, or visit some of Sonoma’s best wineries of 2025. Remember, check with each winery; some require reservations. Or, we can help arrange a wine tasting tour through our concierge partner.

Fall Activities in Sonoma

Sonoma during the fall is truly a magical time. This is when the vineyards are alive with energy, and the leaves are beginning to change! Take this opportunity to visit one of the many pumpkin patches in Sonoma County. Or, take a crisp kayak trip along the Russian River.

If you’re planning to take a Sonoma vacation, use this opportunity to explore Sonoma Plaza, chock-full of historic restaurants, shops (like the original Williams Sonoma!), and plenty of wine tasting. Pack up the car and bundle up for a Sonoma Coast day trip and see the coastline of Northern California. Be sure to grab some saltwater taffy along the way!

Sonoma Fall Getaways

If the fall season is your vibe, you’ll definitely want to experience Sonoma during this time. The mornings are cool and crisp, the days are warm, and the nights are best spent around a fire pit sipping on the wine du jour from a day of tasting. Explore luxury vacation rentals in Sonoma or find a cozy furnished vacation home near Sonoma Plaza for easy walkability and downtown dining. A Sonoma fall getaway awaits!